Thermostatic valve



Jan. 24, 1939. E, G, WR.GHT 2,145,003

A THERMOSTATIC VALVE Filed April 4, 1956 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED` STATES THERMOSTATIC VALVE Everett G. Wright, Detroit, M1'ch.,v assigner to James A. Kinnard,v Detroit, Mich.

Application April 4,1936; SeriaLNo; 72,676

2 Claims.

This invention relates to thermostatic 'valves of the butterfly type and in particular to temperature responsive devices used for controlling the circulationof the cooling fluid in the cooling y, system of automobile engines and the like. Y

One object of this invention is to provide a thermostatic valve assembly preferably adapted to be operatively locatedwithin a llexible connection between an internal'combustionengine lo and the radiator of its cooling system, the butter'- fly valve thereof being preferably actuated by a nui-d filled bellows type temperature responsive element mounted thereon in such a manner as to cause a positivepivotal movement of the said l5 valve.

Another object of this invention is to providea thermostatic valve assembly having the bellows type thermostatic element thereof located eccentric to its pivotal mounting and adapted to co'- .30 operate with an arcuate ,ball socket secured` toi the valve housing in such al manner as to permit the power stroke of the said thermostaticv element to be always normal to lthel face, of the valve.

Another object of this invention is to provide i' a thermostatic valve assembly havingthe bellows type thermostatic element thereof located eccentric toits pivotal mounting and adapted to react against a floating ball joint in such a man- ;w, ner as to cause the power stroke of the said thermostatic element to act at all times tangential to the arcuate path of the bellows,

Another object of this invention is to provide a thermcstatic valve assembly having the bellows f5, type thermostatic element thereof locate-d ecceni tric to its pivotal mounting and adapted to open and close the said valve responsive to the said thermostatic element without the use of springs or the like for urging the said valve to its open or closed position.

' Another object of this invention is to provide a butterfly type thermostatic valve .assembly` having a floating ball and socket connection between the movable valve member and the hous- 5 ing, the said valve assembly being suitably baffled to constantly urge the said movable valve member from its full open position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a thermostatic valve assembly having its bellows 50 type thermostatic element preferably integral Y with the pivoted butterfly valve thereof, the said assembly being compactly constructed of a com' paratively few simple parts, easy to assemble and economical to manufacture.

55 Another object of this invention is to provide a thermostatic valve assembly having a ball headed linkage member adjustably secured to the bellows type -thermostatic element thereof and adapted to cooperate with an arcuate ball socketl secured to the valve housing.

Another object of this invention is to providev a thermostatic valve having a ball and arcuate socket jointbetween the thermostatic elementl thereof'and the housing disposed so as to be free from deposits of foreign matter passing through the said valve.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig, l is a longitudinal sectional view of a thermostatic' valve assembly embodying the invention, the pivoted butterfly valvethereof being shown in itsl closed position.

Fig. 2 is'across sectional view taken on line 20. 2 2 of Fig.l l with the valve shown in its open position.

Fig. 3 is Va longitudinal sectional view of a thermostatic valve assembly indicating another embodiment of the invention, the pivoted butterfly valve thereof being shown in its open position. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. l looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring particularly to the drawing wherein 301 like numerals refer to like and corresponding partsY throughout the several views, the embodiment of the improved thermostatic valve shown in Figs. 1, 2V and l comprises a housing or casing itl having abutterfly type valve member I I pivoted 35.

therein, The valve type member I l is preferably formed with a pair of oppositely disposed integral lugs l2 having suitable apertures therein through which shoulderedbearings I3 pivotally support the said valve member II from diametrically oplo posite sides of the tubular housing or casing Ill.` The said shouldered bearings I3 may be secured to the casing I0v by peening or rolling the same into engagement therewith,

The valve member ll is provided with a sub- I-liV into which is adjustably threaded a linkage 55,v

member or pin having a ball shaped head I8 integral therewith. The said linkage pin I'I has a square shouldered portion I9 by means of which the said pin may be turned into or out of the boss I8 for adjusting the distance from the top of its ball shaped head I3 to the movable end I5 of the bellows I 4. A lock nut 2G threaded on the linkage pin Il and turned tight against the movable end I5 of the bellows I4 secures the said linkage pin in its adjusted position.

An arcuately grooved shaped socket 2| of a suitable cross section to accommodate the ball shaped head I8 of the linkage pin I is secured to the housing I0 in such a position that the ball shaped head I8 of the linkage pin |'I is retained therein when the butterfly valve member I I is in its closed position as indicated by the full lines in Fig. 1 or in its open position as indicated by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 1, or in any position therebetween. The said arcuate socket 2| is preferably provided with an annular protruding collar 22 and a tab 23 which extend through suitably located apertures in the housing EB and are rolled or peened into engagement with the said housing ID for securing the said arcuate shaped socket 2| thereto.

A stop 24 which may be integral with the said arcuate socket 2| is preferably shaped as indicated in Fig. 4 to direct cooling fluid passing through the valve assembly around the said arcuate socket 2|. The buttery valve member may be provided with one or more suitably disposed and sized apertures 25 through which a Small amount of cooling fluid passes for the purpose of maintaining a slight circulation of cooling fluid through the cooling system regulated by the said valve I l when the valve is closed. The slight circulation of the cooling fluid from an engine through apertures 25 inthe valve II when the said valve is closed permits a quick response by the thermostatic element operating the same to slight temperature changes of the cooling fluid in the engine. The size and location of the aperture 25 or apertures 25, as the case may be, in the valve member may also be used to balance the valve I I when closed against the pressure of the cooling fluid where the cooling fluid is under forced circulation.

The embodiment of the invention sho-wn in Fig. 3 is of similar construction to the embodiment hereinbefore described, however, the butterfly valve Il has been shown in its open position in Fig. 3 with its closed position being indicated by the dot and dash lines therein. It will be noted that the butterfly valve I I in Fig. 3 is bent at the inflow end thereof preferably as designated by the numeral 26 and that the housing I0 is provided with a suitably disposed baffle 2l also at the inflow end thereof. Under certain high velocities of coolant passing through the valve assembly the valve I I will not start to close from its open position when the thermostatic element 4 contracts without there being present a tendency or constant urging of the valve II to rotate toward its closed position. The streamlining 26 of butterfly valve at its inflow end and the placing of a suitable baflie 2'I at the inow end of the housing I0 provides simple means for constantly urging the said butterfly Valve to rotate toward its closed position.

When the valve I of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1 is in its open position as indicated by the dot and dash lines therein, coolant passing the said valve and contacting the beveled surface 28 of the dished portion thereof constantly urges the said valve against the stop 24 which prevents a fluttering of the valve when the temperature of the coolant is at such a point that the thermostatic element or bellows is changing the direction of its power stroke.

The said streamlining 26 of the butterlyvalve I I in the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3 at its inflow end and the providing of a suitably disposed baille 2l at the inflow end of the housing I0 overcomes the effort of the coolant passing the said valve and contacting the beveled surface 28 of the dished portion thereof to urge the said valve against the stop 24, however, inasmuch as the valve I I in Fig. 3 is constantly urged to rotate toward its closed position, the said valve has no tendency to flutter.

By closing the end 29 of the arcuate socket 2| as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the said socket 2| has all of its openings disposed in the same direction as the flow of coolant through the valve assembly thereby assuring against the accumulation of foreign matter in the ball and arcuate socket joint thereof.

In both embodiments shown in the drawing, it is desirable and preferable to charge the bellows |4 in a manner such as will cause it to be noi'- mally under a vacuum so that in the event of leakage the bellows I4 will expand due to the loss of the vacuum and open the valve member to a position of safety.

The bellows |4 is preferably secured to the dished portion of the butterfly valve member exactly on the longitudinal center line thereof and at a definite distance eccentric to the pivotal center of the said valve The bellows is preferably charged and the linkage pin I'I is adjusted so that at a given temperature, say degrees, the top of the ball shaped head I8 of the said linkage pin Il is at a predetermined gaged clistance above the base of the dished portion of the said valve The lock nut 20 threaded on the linkage pin |'I is then turned against the movable end l5 of the bellows to maintain the linkage pin in its adjusted position. The butterfly valve is then assembled in the housing I0 and the ball head I8 of the linkage pin is placed into operating relationship with the arcuate shaped socket 2| secured to the housing III in the proper position to cooperate with the headed linkage pin |1 secured to the thermostatic element I4 on the pivoted butterfly valve I Although pre-assembly adjustment of the linkage pin |I in respect to the movable end |5 of the bellows i4 is normally sufcient, the said linkage pin |'I is easily accessible after assembly for adjustment as is obviously apparent by reference to Fig. 3. By adjusting the height of the ball shaped head IS of the linkage pin above the movable end I5 of the thermostatic element 4, the operating temperature of the valve may be varied within reasonable limits, or, the said adjustment may be utilized to compensate for reasonable variations in the charge of the thermostatic element |4.

The valve of the thermostatic valve assembly when placed in a flexible connection between an automotive or internal combustion engine and the radiator of its cooling system remains closed when the temperature of the coolant in the cooling system is lower than say 140 degrees, the temperature at which the thermostatic element f 4 is charged and set. A slight circulation of the coolant is permitted through apertures 25 in the said valve until the temperature of the coolant from the engine exceeds the predetermined operating point of the thermostatic element I4. As the temperature of the coolant increases above 140 degrees, the thermostatic element I4 expands and urges the valve II to its open position with the ball head of the linkage pin secured in the movable end I5 of the thermostatic element I4 retained in and acting against the arcuate shaped socket 2|. Conversely, when the said valve Il is open or partially open and the temperature of the coolant is higher than say 140 degrees, and the temperature of the said coolant decreases toward 140 degrees, the thermostatic element Id contracts and pulls the valve Il to its closed position.

As the valve I I opens and closes, the ball head I8 of the linkage pin Il, which is freely retained in the arcuate shaped socket 2|, travels arcuately therein thereby permitting the linkage pin I'I and the power stroke of the bellows i4 to rotate with the valve I I and at all times be normal to the said valve II at all positions of the said valve. Although th-e disclosure herein 'contemplates a ball head I8 on the linkage pin il, it is obvious that other means for freely retaining the end of the linkage pin Il in an arcuate shaped socket may be employed to accomplish the desired results. Inasmuch as the power stroke of the bellows I4 is at all times tangential to the arcuate path of the said bellows, a comparatively small bellows is required since the full power stroke thereof is utilized to move the said valve I I from any position.

It will be noted that the mounting of the bellows in cooperation with the ball and arcuate socket joint between the butterily valve II and the housing I0 is such that no springs or means other than the bellows itself is required to close the butterfly valve once it has been opened, eX- cept, however, as hereinbefore described, the streamlining of the said butterfly valve I I and the providing of a baflie 2l at the inflow end of the casing I0 may be required under certain conditions of velocity of coolant through the valve assembly.

The simplicity of construction of the thermostatic valve assembly disclosed herein, the elimination of unnecessary moving parts, and the protection of the ball and arcuate socket joint thereof from the accumulation of foreign matter from coolant passing through the same, all tend toward economy of manufacture, long operation without mechanical breakdown and freedom from cleaning and servicing during use.

Although but two specific embodiments of this invention have been disclosed and described herein, it will be understood that various changes including the size, shape, arrangement and details of the various parts thereof may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and it is not intended to limit the scope thereof other than by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a thermostatic valve comprising a tubular housing, a valve member pivoted in said housing biased toward its closed position by bending its inflow end to permit coolant passing through said housing to constantly urge said valve to pivot toward its closed position, a thermostatic element mounted on said valve member eccentric to its pivotal mounting, an arcuately grooved socket secured within said housing, and means secured to said thermostatic element engaged in said arcuately grooved socket adapted to arcuately travel therein with a movement of translation only with respect to said socket during the pivoting of the said Valve by the expansion and contraction of the said therj mostatic element.

2. In combination, a thermostatic valve comprising a tubular housing, a valve member pivoted in said housing biased toward its closed position by bending its inflow end to permit coolant passing through said housing to constantly urge said valve to pivot toward its closed position, a thermostatic element mounted on said valve member eccentric to its pivotal mounting, and a ball and arcuately grooved socket connection between the said thermostatic element and said housing in which the said ball is subject to a translatory movement only within said arcuately grooved socket as the thermostatic element pivots said valve within said housing.

EVERET'I G. WRIGHT. 

